Billiard equipment

ABSTRACT

A cushion for a billiard table is disclosed. The cushion includes an extruded member having a substantially triangular or L-shaped cross-section and a layer of tape on one surface thereof for affixing the cushion to a billiard table. Also disclosed is an improved cue for billiards wherein a substantial portion of the weight of the cue is disposed in a distal portion of the cue located near the tip of the cue, which is used to strike a ball. The cue is preferably modular to allow substitution of various portions of the cue to permit it to be customized to a specific player. Also disclosed is a device for metering the speed of the surface of a billiard table. Also disclosed is a quick-change tip for a cue which includes an elastomeric material that is sized to snugly fit over the distal end of a cue to releasably secure the quick-change tip to the cue.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/912,027, filed on Jul. 24, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,774;which, in turn claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.provisional patent application No. 60/221,210, filed on Jul. 27, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in billiard equipment.More particularly, the present invention relates to improved billiardcues, tables and associated equipment.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Billiard tables have been made in essentially the same way for manyyears. The industry standard billiard table cushion is 1.1875 inchesacross the base and 1 inch in height and has a triangular profile. Thestandard cushion is molded from pure gum rubber. The basic shaped gumrubber is then vulcanized together with a piece of cloth at the base.The typical billiard table cushion for pool tables is made between 30and 45 Shore A hardness. A control cloth is then placed over theexterior surface of the cushion.

The process for applying a cushion to a billiard table is to applyrubber cement or carpenter's glue to the base of the cushion and/or theinside wood for the side rails of the billiard table. The cushion isthen mounted to the side rails and the glue is left to cure for 24hours.

Present cushion technology for billiard tables suffers from severaldisadvantages. First, the gum rubber employed to make the cushions has alimited life span since it undergoes relatively rapid degradation whenexposed to temperature changes, air and/or light. Second, the moldingprocess employed to produce gum rubber cushions is susceptible tomanufacturing inconsistencies which may result in significant variationsin the properties of cushions made by the same manufacturer.

Also, the control cloth of standard cushions tends to wear out quickly,particularly in areas of the table where more frequent play isexperienced. Further, the need to use glue to mount current cushionsintroduces the possibility of error and/or variations due to the use ofvarying amounts of glue at different locations along the cushion. Also,the 24 hour curing period for mounting cushions is a significantdisadvantage of the present technology.

Current billiard cues are frequently made as a single piece from woodalthough two-piece designs for billiard cues are also employed for moreexpensive cues. Generally, the area of the cue, which must slide throughthe guiding hand of the player is made from wood and must be frequentlycleaned and treated with friction-reducing materials to preventsticking.

Another disadvantage of present billiard cues is that they arefrequently manufactured at a limited number of lengths and weights dueto potentially high manufacturing and inventory costs. It is desirableto provide billiard cues that can be customized in weight, length, grip,tip and shaft, particularly for more experienced players who demand highquality, and consistent equipment to play at a competitive level.

Present billiard cue design calls for the cue to taper from a largerdiameter at the butt end to a smaller diameter at the tip used forstrung the ball. This design is non-ideal when the physics of pool areconsidered. Moreover, the taper frequently results in a changinggeometric angles during a standard ball stroke since the diameter of thecue passing through the fingers changes as the cue moves back and thenforward during a stroke.

Billiard cues also suffer from the disadvantage that the tips are notsufficiently durable to last a long time under normal playingconditions, particularly when the cue is used daily as in many billiardhalls. This necessitates frequent replacement of the cue tips therebyresulting in additional costs and, more importantly, at any given timenumerous cues may be out of commission due to damaged tips.

Another problem with cue tips is that they require the application of afriction-enhancing material such as chalk to function properly. As aresult, billiard centers have to keep an ample supply of chalk on handfor the players. More problematic however, is the mess that this chalkcauses when it gets on the floor, billiard table, clothing of theplayers and even on ceilings and walls when the tip of the cue contactsthem. It would be desirable to reduce or eliminate the need for thisfriction-enhancing material to simplify and clean up the game ofbilliards.

Finally, a frequent problem faced by all billiard players is thatproperties of billiard tables vary from table to table. Such things asball speed, resilience of the cushions, whether the playing surface islevel and other factors vary from table to table. At present, there isno method or apparatus for testing a series of the important propertiesof a billiard table to thereby allow the table to be adjusted and/orgraded. As a result, players must spend time to learn the properties ofeach table that they play on and adjust to the table which results in anunfair advantage for the player most familiar with a particular table.

It is one object of the present invention to provide various embodimentsof cushions for billiard tables which overcome one or more of thedisadvantages of current cushions for billiard tables.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide variousembodiments of billiard cues and/or attachments therefor which overcomeone or more of the disadvantages of current billiard cues.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for use in consistently measuring and testing certainproperties of billiard tables which affect the play of the game tothereby overcome one or more of the disadvantages of present testingapparatus and to provide the ability to correct the tables and/or ratethe tables.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to solving oneor more of the foregoing problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an advanced billiardtable cushion, which can be used on standard billiard tables.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to an advanced cuestick for use in billiards.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to various attachmentsfor an advanced cue stick for use in billiards.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a device for use inconsistently measuring and testing certain properties of billiard tableswhich affect the play of the game to thereby overcome one or more of thedisadvantages of present testing apparatus and thereby provides theability to correct the tables and/or rate the tables.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description that follows and other features and advantageswill be apparent from the detailed description or may be learned bypractice of the invention.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description of theinvention and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory only and are not to be restrictive of the invention asclaimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cushion in accordance with thepresent invention indicating the dimensions of the cushion.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show two different cross-sectional views of a cushion inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing how a conventional cushion ismounted on a billiard table.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an inertia based geometricallycorrect billiard cue in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the overall design of a billiard cue inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5C are sectionals view of the quick-connect fittings that maybe employed in the billiard cue of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a vertical plane cross-sectional view of a stint meter inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a horizontal plane cross-sectional view of a stint meter inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the art, given the description of theinvention herein will recognize the utility of the apparatus and methodof the present invention in a variety of diverse table games includingat least pool, snooker, billiards, bumper pool and other similar tablegames. However, for ease of description, the present invention will bedescribed in the context of the game of pool.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a cushion, which issuitable for use on a billiards table such as a pool table or othersimilar table. The cushion of the present invention is made by extrusionin an integrated process. The extrusion process permits manufacture ofthe cushion to extremely small tolerances. The extrusion process is alsoadvantageous for curing since it can be carried out at steady speeds andconsistent temperatures. This represents a significant advantage overmolding and vulcanization processes since these processes cannot apply aconstant curing temperature. Moreover, the heating elements used forcuring and the conduction and/or radiation rates of the mold, as well asthe differential thermal coefficients of the rubber and cloth, allresult in variations in the cure rate and thus in the properties ofconventional cushions for billiard tables.

The integrated extrusion process for making the cushion of the presentinvention includes applying a hot bond tape. The hot bond tape may beaffixed to the base of the material while it is being extruded. The tapeis double-sided to allow table manufacturers to quickly and accuratelyapply the cushion to the table using the tape to adhere the cushion inplace. This application process eliminates nearly 24 hours of cure timefrom the standard billiard table manufacturing process.

In addition, the nature of the material used for the cushion of thepresent invention and the extrusion process used to make it, permit thecushion to be tailored to virtually any shore hardness, which may berequired by table manufacturers. The cushion of the present invention ispreferably made from one of several high-tech engineered polymericmaterials, which can be engineered to the shore hardness and elasticityrequired for billiard tables. Cushions made from such engineeredpolymeric materials have a consistency superior to that of gum rubberand they last longer. Also, due to the engineered properties of thepolymeric materials, cushions made from them do not require a controlcloth, which is a major source of wear and breakdown in conventionalcushions. One exemplary suitable polymeric material is Monprene®#1037FL. Monprene® has the advantages that it is easily extrudable, hasthe right properties for cushions, will significantly outlast cushionsmade from natural rubber, is resistant to low temperatures andultraviolet degradation and does not require vulcanization in themanufacturing process. Other similar materials may also be employed andsuch similar materials are known to those skilled in the art. A suitableexemplary hot bond tape is 3M® #4981 hot bond tape. Other similar hotbond tapes may also be employed and such similar materials are known tothose skilled in the art. Cold bond tapes may also be employed. The tapeis preferably co-extruded with the Monprene® to form it as an integralpart of the cushion. The cushion material should have a Shore hardnessof 25-45 on the A scale instantaneous and should rate 60-90 on theresilience test per ASTM standard D 2632-96.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cushion in accordance with thepresent invention indicating the dimensions of the cushion. Referring toFIGS. 1A-1B, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a K-66 cushionmade by an integrated extrusion process in accordance with the presentinvention from Monprene® #1037FL and 3M® #4981 hot bond tape. “K-66” isa standard designation of a particular type of cushion used for aparticular type of billiard table. The dimensions of a standard K-66cushion are depicted in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B shows a K-66 cushion structure31 including a triangular section 32 and tape 33 that is employed toaffix triangular section 32 to a billiard table instead of using, forexample, the highly complex conventional method of affixing cushions toa billiard table that is depicted in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional view of prior artrails and blinds. This view shows how to attach a conventional prior artcushion to a standard pool table to ensure that the control cloth istaut, properly positioned and maintained in place. Using the presentinvention, this can be greatly simplified since the control cloth can beeliminated and the hot bond tape can be employed to affix the cushiondirectly to the wood portion of the billiard table.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to an inertia basedgeometrically correct cue stick. The cue may be used for playing anytable billiards game, which requires the use of a cue and can be made ina variety of sizes and weights to suit different players and differentgames. The cue of the present invention may include one or more ofseveral features, which may render it distinctive.

First, the cue may have a substantially uniform diameter from one end ofthe cue to the other, rather than being tapered, as is the case withmost conventional cues. By substantially uniform is meant that over mostof the length of the cue the diameter of the cue remains substantiallythe same allowing for up to a 10% variation in diameter. Morepreferably, the cue has only up to a 5% variation in diameter and mostpreferably the variation in diameter is less than about 2%. Thesubstantially uniform diameter facilitates the maintenance of asubstantially constant geometric angle throughout the stroke of theball.

Second, the cue of the present invention may include a front loadedweight system whereby a substantial portion of the weight of the cue islocated in the half of the cue nearest the tip used to strike the ball.More preferably, substantially more than half the weight of the cue islocated in the half of the cue nearest the tip used to strike the ball.Most preferably, about 60-80% of the weight of the cue is located in thefront half of the cue nearest the tip used to strike the ball. Thisfront loaded weight system is the key to supplying inertia to the cue,thereby delivering a more consistent stroke of the ball.

The front-loading of the weight places the weight where it is mostcorrectly utilized thereby resulting in a shorter stroke that accuratelyapplies the mass of the cue to the intended target. There is no longer aneed to transfer the weight of the stick from the back to strike theball.

Thirdly, the cue of the present invention may include modular sectionswhich may be separated and replaced to vary the total weight, weightdistribution, feel and/or finish of the cue, as desired. Preferably, themodular sections are provided with quick connecting means, which allowrapid disassembly and reassembly of the cue for play. Modular cues mayalso include weights as a component of the cue. A variety of differentvariations of the modular sections of the cue made from differentmaterials such as polymeric tubing, aluminum tubing, and stainless steelrod are described in the following two pages of tables which discussboth one piece and three piece cues or sticks.

THREE PIECE STICK 0.375 PLASTIC TUBING Section 1 Section 2 Section 3Totals 21.67 21.67 21.67 65.00 3.345 1.921 1.921 7.187 1.387 1.387 2.77310.862 10.862 Total Weight in Ounces 14.207 3.308 3.308 20.823 TotalPercentages 68.23% 15.89% 15.89% 100.00% PLASTIC TUBING .625 OD OZ perIN 0.125 inside diameter 0.235 0.1875 inside diameter 0.226 0.25 insidediameter 0.212 0.375 inside diameter 0.154 0.5 inside diameter 0.0890.035 0.028 0.049 0.036 0.058 0.041 0.035 0.036 0.049 0.048 0.058 0.0540.035 0.044 0.049 0.059 0.058 0.068 0.065 0.075 0.035 0.052 0.028 0.0480.768 0.064 0.035 0.06 0.960 0.080 0.049 0.082 1.312 0.109 0.058 0.0951.520 0.127 0.065 0.105 1.680 0.140 0.083 0.128 2.048 0.171 0.120 0.1682.688 0.224 Outside diameter PD. per FT. OZ. per FT. OZ. Per IN. 0.1250.042 0.672 0.056 THREE PIECE STICK 0.25 PLASTIC TUBING Section 1Section 2 Section 3 Totals 21.67 21.67 21.67 65.00 4.586 1.921 1.9218.428 1.387 1.387 2.773 4.824 4.824 Total Weight in Ounces 9.410 3.3083.308 16.025 Total Percentages 58.72% 20.64% 20.64% 100.00% .375 ID 65ONE PLASTIC TUBING 10.036 PIECE 7.520 STICK Total Weight in Ounces17.556 Total Percentages .250 ID 65 ONE PLASTIC TUBING 13.757 PIECE4.676 STICK Total Weight in Ounces 18.433 Total Percentages .500 ID 65ONE PLASTIC TUBING 5.763 PIECE 2.773 STICK 10.000 Total Weight in Ounces18.537 Total Percentages

Another feature which may be included in the cue of the presentinvention are quick change tips which would permit use of different tipdiameters, hardness and/or coefficients of friction to meet the desiresof the player or to adapt for changing playing conditions, differentgames or different billiard tables. Quick-change tips can be snap on,screw or can be attached in any other suitable manner.

One particularly preferred embodiment of quick change tips is in theform of replaceable tips having an elastic or stretchable rubbermaterial attached thereto in a shape like a condom to fit over the endof the pool cue with the elastic or stretchable rubber holding the tipfirmly in place on the end of the cue. Such quick-change tips can bemade in custom designs to provide distinctiveness to the cue, such asuse of a glow in the dark elastic material.

Another feature that may be included in the cue of the present inventionare neoprene tips that do not require the use of chalk. The neoprene canbe fabricated with sufficient hardness to maintain its shape and with asuitable coefficient of friction to prevent miscuing, give greater biteand allow the ball to be struck centrally and geometrically correctevery time. Another alternative is a liquid steel tip, which has goodhardness and friction properties and should last forever. The liquidsteel tip may require a slight dampening of the tip for use but no chalkwould be required.

Yet another feature that may be included in the cue of the presentinvention are changeable tail grips on the butt end of the cue.Changeable tail grips can be employed to provide cues having differentdiameters, feels and textures as desired by the player. In oneembodiment, the changeable tail grips can form part of a modular buttend of the stick such that changing the butt end changes the tail grip.In another embodiment, the changeable tail grips can be fabricated froma tubular elastic material which can be stretched and slipped over thebutt end of the cue and will adhere tightly to the cue at the desiredlocation when the elastic material returns to its original form.

Finally, the cue of the present invention may be constructed from anysuitable polymeric material. Use of such polymeric materials low cost,high durability cues. Also, polymeric materials can be employed toprovide variable weights, lengths and diameters, as well as a variety ofdifferent surface finishes including finishes with a very lowcoefficient of friction to reduce sticking of the cue in the hand. Thesefeatures allow a player to customize the cue to exacting specifications.Finally, polymeric materials can be fabricated to very tight tolerancesallowing for precision manufacture of cues. Particular suitablepolymeric materials are polymer composites since they are durable, lightweight and easy to manufacture.

Any one or more of these various features may be combined with oneanother to produce a cue in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown one embodiment of a modularinertia based geometrically correct cue 20 in accordance with thepresent invention. The cue 20 includes a tip 21, preferably fabricatedfrom neoprene or other suitable materials. The neoprene tips may befabricated in different hardnesses so that players can change the tip 21to meet their particular playing needs. The tip 21 is preferably made toconform to regulation playing dimensions. The tip 21 preferably includesa male connector 2 that is preferably integrally formed with tip 21. Themale connector 2 should permit a simple, yet tight releasable connectionbetween tip 21 and the shaft section 4 of cue 20. Any suitable,conventional male connector 2 can be employed.

Shaft section 4 includes a female connector 3, which matingly engageswith male connector 2 of tip 21 to releasably secure the tip 21 to shaftsection 4. If a releasable tip 21 is not required, then tip 21 can bepermanently affixed to shaft section 4 by any suitable means such asfusing male connector 2 to female connector 3. Shaft section 4preferably has about 50-80% of the weight of combined shaft sections 4,7 and handle section 1, more preferably about 60-75% of the weight ofcombined shaft sections 4, 7 and handle section 1 and most preferablyabout 65-70% of the weight of combined shaft sections 4, 7 and handlesection 1.

Shaft section 4 includes a connector shown as a male connector 5 in FIG.3. This connector 5 is preferably integrally formed with shaft section4. Alternatively, the connector 5 of shaft section 4 could be a femaleconnector in which case the connector 6 of shaft section 7 would then bea male connector. Again, any suitable, conventional connectors 5, 6 canbe employed to connect shaft sections 4 and 7. Most preferably,connectors 5, 6 provide a releasable connection between shaft sections 4and 7, although it is also possible to have a permanent connectionbetween shaft sections 4, 7 or to form shaft sections 4, 7 integrally asa single shaft section.

Shaft sections 4, 7 may be made of any suitable material. Preferably,shaft section 4 is made from a dense polymeric material and has ahomogeneous weight distribution. Shaft section 7 is preferably made froma material that is less dense than shaft section 4 to permit the shaftsection 7 to have a diameter similar to the diameter of shaft section 4while having a significantly lower weight than shaft section 4.

Shaft section 7 preferably has a weight of about 80-120% of the weightof handle section 1. More preferably, shaft section 7 has a weight ofabout 90-110% of the weight of handle section 1. Most preferably, handlesection 1 and 7 have about the same weight.

Shaft section 7 includes a connector shown as a male connector 8 in FIG.3. This connector 8 is preferably integrally formed with shaft section7. Alternatively, the connector 8 of shaft section 7 could be a femaleconnector in which case the connector 9 of handle section 1 would thenbe a male connector. Again, any suitable, conventional connectors 8, 9can be employed to connect shaft section 7 and handle section 1. Mostpreferably, connectors 8, 9 provide a releasable connection betweenshaft section 7 and handle section 1, although it is also possible tohave a permanent connection between shaft section 7 and handle section 1or to form shaft section 7 integrally with handle section 1 as a singlesection. Finally, shaft sections 4, 7 and handle section 1 may all bepermanently affixed to one another or formed integrally as a one-piecedevice, if desired.

Handle section 1 preferably includes a grip 22 on the outer surfacethereof. Handle section 1 may have a surface finish to facilitateexchanging grips 22 to allow customizability of the grip of cue 20. Thegrip 22 is preferably slid over the outside of handle section 1 and maybe made of any suitable material such as foam, rubber, etc. Conventionalgrips and/or grip materials may be employed in the cue 20 of the presentinvention. The weight of the grip 22 should be considered as part of theoverall weight of handle section 1. More preferably, handle section 1has a slightly larger diameter than shaft section 7 to provide asuitable diameter for a comfortable grip on the cue by the user.

Preferably, the shaft sections 4, 7 and handle section 1 all have aboutthe same length. However, it is possible to vary the lengths of each ofthese sections by up to about 25% relative to one another within thescope of the present invention.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the cue is five feet fiveinches long and weighs 19 ounces. Each section of the cue is 1.8333inches long. Shaft section 4, including tip 21, weighs 12.666 ounces.Shaft section 7 and handle section 1 each weight 3.166 ounces. Cueweights can be varied to accommodate different players. Conventional cueweights typically vary from about 17 ounces to about 22 ounces.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the design of a modular cue in accordancewith the present invention employing a quick change tip that snaps intoplace, quick connect fittings to connect the various elements of the cuetogether and a snap in end bumper to protect the butt end of the cue.More specifically, the cue 20 of FIG. 4 includes a tip 21 provided witha male connector 2. A shaft section 4 is provided with a femaleconnector 3 to connect with male connector 2 of tip 21 and a maleconnector 5 to connect with female connector 6 of shaft section 7. Shaftsection 7 further includes a male connector 8 to connect with femaleconnector 9 of handle section 1. Handle section 1 is provided with agrip 22 and a male connector 23 to connect with female connector 24 ofend bumper 25.

FIGS. 5A-5C show the details of the quick-connect fittings for use inthe modular cue of the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a schematic viewof a shaft section 40 having a female quick-connect fitting 41 at oneend and a male quick-connect fitting 42 at the other end. Quick-connectfittings 41, 42 are designed to fit within the distal and proximal endsof shaft section 40 for ease of manufacture and thus have a cylindricalcross-section with a slightly smaller diameter than the cylindricalcross-section of the shaft section 40.

To assemble shaft section 40 with fittings 41, 42, a fitting 41, 42 isplaced in a jig with the connecting end down. The shaft section 40 islowered into place and cold pour is deposited into shaft section 40. Thefitting 41, 42 is placed in the shaft section 40 and the cold pourhardens to seal the fitting 41, 42 into shaft section 40.

FIG. 5B shows the detail of a suitable female fitting 41. Female fitting41 includes a female connector 43 formed as a slot in one end of femalefitting 41. Female fitting 41 also preferably includes an outer surface44 which is of sufficient size and diameter to fit within shaft section40 for easy assembly as described above. Also, female fitting 41 mayinclude an openings 45, 46 leading to hollow sections 47, 48 so that,for example, cold pour can pass through openings 45, 46 and at leastpartially fill hollow sections 47, 48 to more securely hold femalefitting 41 in shaft section 40.

FIG. 5 c shows the detail of a suitable male fitting 42. Male fitting 42includes a male connector 53 formed as a protrusion from one end of malefitting 42. Male fitting 42 also preferably includes an outer surface 54which is of sufficient size and diameter to fit within shaft section 40for easy assembly as described above. Also, male fitting 42 may includean openings 55, 56, 57, 58 leading to hollow sections 59, 60, 61, 62 sothat, for example, cold pour can pass through openings 55, 56, 57, 58and at least partially fill hollow sections 59, 60, 61, 62 to moresecurely hold male fitting 42 in shaft section 40.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus forchecking or to rate the quality of a billiard table. One embodiment ofsuch an apparatus is shown in a vertical plane cross-section in FIG. 6Aand a horizontal plane cross section in FIG. 6B. This device will becalled a stint meter for the purpose of this description.

In its simplest form, the stint meter includes a vertical tube 10, whichextends down and connects to a curved tube 11 located in a base 12. Thestint meter is placed on a billiard table with the base 12 sitting onthe table and the back side 13 of the base 12 up against one of thecushions. A ball is dropped down vertical tube 10 through top opening 14and passes through curved tube 11 in base 12 and rolls out onto thebilliard table. Since the ball can be dropped from a constant height atopening 14, the distance that the ball rolls can be used to measure thespeed of the table and/or the bounce of the cushions.

A more sophisticated stint meter is shown in FIGS. 6A-6B since it has aplurality of openings 15 located at different heights along verticaltube 10 through which a ball can be inserted into vertical tube 10 at avariety of different heights. In this manner, the stint meter of FIGS.6A-6B can be used to perform a variety of different methods of testing abilliard table to provide an overall quality rating for that table.

An even more sophisticated stint meter may include a variety ofdifferent shapes built into the base or different attachments for thebase for placing the stint meter at various predefined locations on abilliard table such as in a corner or at an angle to the cushion so thateven more varied test methods can be carried out.

The present invention also includes a method for testing or ratingbilliard tables using the stint meter of the invention or a similar typeof device. In the method, a standardized set test steps consisting of,for example, drop points, drop heights and/or ball roll angles arepredefined and a ball is dropped and rolled using the stint meter ateach step to thereby provide a thorough test of the quality of abilliard table.

More specifically, one test can be employed to determine the roll speedof the table. One or more tests can be employed to determine whether thesurface of the table is level. More sophisticated tests can be employedto determine the degree of bounce in the cushions as well as whethereach of the cushions provides the proper angle of return of the ball offof the cushion at various locations along the cushion and at variousimpact angles. The method can be designed as a series of differenttests, which provide a rating of the quality of the table by measuringone or more of all the relevant playing features of a billiard table.

The table rating method may also be employed to provide publishedratings of various billiard establishments or specific tables withinsuch establishments to encourage billiard establishments to impose highstandards of maintenance and repair for their billiard tables therebyresulting in an overall improvement in the quality of the playingexperience.

These and other features apparent to a skilled person from reading thisapplication and reviewing the drawings and materials appended hereto arewithin the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention isto be determined from the claims appended hereto.

Attached are three pages of specifications for billiard equipment, whichmay be relevant to the present invention. The various features,apparatus and embodiments of the present invention may be fabricated tothese specifications.

The Cushions

Cushion: Rubber cushions should be triangular in shape and molded withthe conventional K-66 profile with a base of 1 3/16″ and a nose heightof 1″, with control fabric molded to the top and base area of thecushion. On carom billiard tables, the triangular k-55 profile cushionis to be maintained, with the control fabric on the underside of thecushion to effect a slower rebound action. On snooker tables, thetriangular k66 profile or L-shaped snooker cushion is to be used. Thebalance of the rail section to which the rubber cushion is glued shouldbe of hardwood construction and attached to the slate bed with a minimumof three (3) heavy duty, threaded rail bolts per rail.For proper play the table should have good quality K-66 profilecushions. K-66 refers to the shape of the cushion. It is an industrystandard. A lower grade K-66 cushion is used on some less expensivetables as a means of reducing cost.The cushion should adhere firmly to the rail in straight line free ofany waves. Setting the rail rubber is a tricky operation requiringexperienced personnel. Canvas backing helps the cushion adhere to therail. Loose cushions will affect the accuracy of play. Accuracy willalso be compromised by cushion that lacks control fabric. Control fabricis canvas embedded in the top of the cushion. It controls the action ofthe rubber and insures accurate rebound. Although required by BCAregulations for many years, some manufacturers have begun omitting thiscrucial component of the rail cushion.The distance from the playing surface to the nose of the cushion isabsolutely critical to the playability of the table. For optimalplayability, this distance must be 64% of the ball diameter, or 1.44inches (standard ball diameter is 2.25 inches). Cushion set lower than1.44″ will cause the ball to hop or even bounce off the table whenstruck hard. Cushions set higher will dampen the rebound resulting in anoisy thud and dead ball. Cushions set precisely will be both lively andquiet.Table Sizes:3½′×7′, 4′×8′, and 4½′×9′ with the Play Area measuring twice as long asit is wide (±⅛″) from the cloth covered nose of the cushion rubber tothe opposite cushion rubber. 4½′×9′ tables with a Play Area of 50″×100″are the recognized size for professional tournament play.Table Bed Height:The table bed playing surface, when measured from the bottom of thetable leg, will be 29¼″ minimum to 31″ maximum.Pocket Openings & Measurement (Cloth Covered Rails):Pocket openings are measured from tip to tip of the opposing cushionnoses where direction changes into the pocket. This is called the mouth.Corner Pocket: Mouth Between 4⅞″ minimum to 5⅛″ maximumSide Pocket: Mouth Between 5⅜″ minimum to 5⅝″ maximumThe angle at the corner pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is142° (±1°). The angle at the side pocket entrance on each side of thepocket is 103° (±2°).Vertical Pocket Angle: 12° minimum to 15° maximumShelf: The shelf is measured from the center of the imaginary line thatgoes from one side of the mouth to the other where the nose of thecushion changes direction to the center of the vertical cut of the slatepocket radius.Corner Pocket: 1⅝″ minimum to 1⅞″ maximumSide Pocket: 0″ minimum to ⅜″ maximumDrop Point Slate Radius: The pocket radius measured from the verticalcut of the slate to the playing surface.Drop Point Slate Radius ⅛″ radius min. to ¼″ radius max.Playing Bed:The playing surface must be capable, either by its own strength or acombination of its strength and that of the table base frame, ofmaintaining an overall flatness within ±0.020″ lengthwise and ±0.010″across the width. Further, this surface should have an additionaldeflection not to exceed 0.030″ when loaded with a concentrated staticforce of 200 pounds at its center. All slate joints must be in the sameplane within 0.005″ after leveling and shimming. The bed must be coveredwith a billiard fabric, the major portion of which is made of wool, withproper tension to avoid unwanted ball roll-off. It is recommended thatprofessional tournament size tables have a three-piece set of slate witha minimum thickness of 1″ and a wooden frame of at least ¾″ attached toslate. BCA will sanction tournament play on home and coin operatedtables with one-piece slate providing the Play Area requirements aremet. All play surfaces must be solidly secured to base frame with screwsor bolts.Cushion:Cushions should react so that they conform under controlled conditionsto the three cushion angles prescribed in the “diamond” (or site) systemshowing in the diagram on page 191 of Billiards: The Official Rules andRecords Book to ±1 ball width. The speed of the table cushions should besuch that placement of a ball on the head spot, shooting through thefoot spot, using center ball english, with a level cue and firm stroke,the ball must travel a minimum of 4 to 4½ lengths of the table withoutjumping.Pool Ball Specifications:Molded and finished in a perfect sphere in the following weight anddiameter:Pocket Billiard BallsWeight: 5½ to 6 oz. *Diameter: 2¼″*Diameter tolerance of (plus or minus) 0.005″Pool Cue Specifications:Player may bring a maximum of 3 cue sticks to a matchWidth of tip: 9 mm minimum/14 mm maximumWeight: no minimum/25 oz. maximumLength: 40 inches minimum/no maximumFerrule, if of a metal material, may not be more than 1 inch in length.The cue tip on any stick used to perform a legal jump shot must becomposed of either a leather or synthetic leather material.

1. A billiard cue having a proximal portion and a distal portion, saidcue comprising: a grip located on the proximal portion of said cue, atip suitable for striking a billiard ball located on a distal end ofsaid distal portion of said cue, and wherein said distal portioncomprises up to half of the length of said billiard cue and comprisessubstantially more than half of the weight of said billiard cue; whereina diameter of the billiard cue varies up to 10% over the length of thecue.
 2. A billiard cue having a proximal portion and a distal portion,said cue comprising: a grip located on the proximal portion of said cue,a tip suitable for striking a billiard ball located on a distal end ofsaid distal portion of said cue, and wherein said distal portioncomprises up to half of the length of said billiard cue and comprisessubstantially more than half of the weight of said billiard cue; whereina diameter of the billiard cue varies up to 5% over the length of thecue.
 3. A billiard cue having a proximal portion and a distal portion,said cue comprising: a grip located on the proximal portion of said cue,a tip suitable for striking a billiard ball located on a distal end ofsaid distal portion of said cue, and wherein said distal portioncomprises up to half of the length of said billiard cue and comprisessubstantially more than half of the weight of said billiard cue; whereinthe diameter of the billiard cue varies up to 2% over the length of thecue.
 4. A billiard cue as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal portionof said billiard cue comprises from 25-50% of the total length of saidbilliard cue, and the proximal portion comprises the remaining length ofsaid billiard cue.
 5. A billiard cue as claimed in claim 4, wherein thedistal portion of said billiard cue has a weight which is about 60-80%of the total weight of said billiard cue.
 6. A billiard cue as claimedin claim 4, wherein the billiard cue comprises three sections which arereleasably attachable to one another, and at least one of said threesections is located in said distal portion of said cue and has asubstantially greater density than another of said three sections.
 7. Abilliard cue as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of said three sectionsforms the entire distal portion of said cue.
 8. A billiard cue asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the tip is releasably attachable to thedistal end of said cue.
 9. A billiard cue as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe tip comprises a surface for striking a billiard ball, and anelastomeric material attached to said surface, said elastomeric materialbeing sized to fit snugly over the distal end of said billiard cue toreleasably secure said tip to the distal end of said billiard cue.
 10. Abilliard cue as claimed in claim 9, wherein the surface of said tip ismade from liquid steel.
 11. A billiard cue as claimed in claim 9,wherein the surface of said tip is made from neoprene.
 12. A billiardcue as claimed in claim 9, wherein said grip comprises a tubularelastomeric material which can be stretched and slipped over theproximal end of the proximal portion of said cue.